A Basket Full of Thanks {Mondays}

Our spring days are delightful. God's abundance spills out in every direction and I'm so thankful! I'm linking up with Ann Voskamp's community of thankful hearts today.

Maggie enjoying her sandbox!

271. I'm so thankful for the sunny days spent in our wonderful backyard; Maggie digging in her sand, me tending my garden.
272. I'm continually amazed by the radical unity I find I'm invited into with my heart's bridegroom, Jesus. John and Ephesians stun me, that I could be united in one heart with God!

Magnolia

273. A southern homecoming continues to unfold around me. The creamy white magnolias decorate our days with gentle grace.
274. I'm thankful for a spiritual community to be a part of; for better or worse, rich or poor, in sickness and in health, and death will never part us.

Flock of pelicans

275. For the blessing of more family visiting, enjoying time together at the beach, and days in each others company.
276. I'm so blessed to be able to pass down ancient truth to my children, I cherish early morning conversations about the character of God and his faithfulness to us.

Golden haired girl

 277. I'm thankful for beauty enriching my life. Beauty flashing in the grin of my golden haired daughter. Beauty in the trusting, freckled face of my boy. Beauty in color and sound, fragrance and light of my precious days.
278. For a man that loves me and welcomes my love in return, painting a picture of God's jealous love for me.

Yellow spider standing guard over my pepper plant

279. For spiders, I really like spiders, yellow ones and jumping ones, furry ones and zigzag web weaving ones.

280. For you. For you, friends who go on the journey with me, read my words and share your hearts and praise God too!

So on this lovely Monday, what are you thankful for?

A Basket Full of Thanks {Mondays}

It's spring break this week and the beach is calling our name! Nana and Papa are here to join in the fun. Sunshine is abundant and the days are warm. I'm fully embracing this gift of family and fun. As I look forward to spending warm days with family, enjoying all God has given, I'm thankful.

Waiting for Papa and Nana

They're here!

Let the fun begin!

261.  I'm thankful for a little garden, tucked in and growing.
262. For a Godly heritage that my little family is blessed by and grow in the shelter of.
263. The lacy whiteness of dogwood trees dotting the landscape of an Alabama spring.
264. Church potlucks, sharing amazing southern food and warm friendship.
265. Bright green lizards running along the edge of my porch matching their skin to the shadows they hide in.
266. Communion, an invitation to unite with Christ and his earthly body the church, an opportunity for our very DNA to change.
267. A southern home I don't deserve but I'm so thankful to steward and enjoy.
268. Grace, for every moment and person, and truth to set us free from the lies that would capture us.
269. Budding friendships with neighbors.
270. The promise of home. Constantly calling me to faithfulness and to pursue the hope I was bought for in Jesus.

I hope that your week is filled with reminders of God's goodness and care over your life!

A Basket Full of Thanks {Mondays}

I'm sporadic in recording my list of gifts but Jesus is constantly teaching me to live with a thankful heart. Recognized gifts turn into gratitude and gratitude crystallizes into joy. This week my heart bubbles over with joy for so many things, things like:

251. Words of challenge and encouragement from ones I love. God uses them to remind me who I've been called to be.

252. A bright eyed boy that fills my heart with laughter and pride.

253.The privilege of worship, reminding me I could never be worthy to come into God's presence on my own.

 254. The love of these two; I'm so thankful for how she looks up to her 'bubby' and how kindly he treats his little sister.

255. The gift of home, a place where we all tuck in cozy, a place of beauty, a place that contains the ones I love.

 256. A lovely gift from a friend. When I see the three eggs I pray for my children. And I pray God will one day give me the desires of my heart by bring our third little bird home to our nest, wherever they may be.

257.  For a vase of soft pink tulips, reminding me that I'm loved more than I deserve.

258. For blossoms in February. 

 259. For the word of God that washes my mind clean of lies and my heart clean of fear. 

260. For love; spoken over my life by God, given freely by my family, and flowing out of me but only by his grace.

This week of Valentine's what expressions of love in your life are you most thankful for?

{Linking up with Ann at A Holy Experience}

A Basket Full of Thanks {Mondays}

Today is my Max's 8th birthday. Every mother wonders, "how can it be?" as her children reach new milestones. I ask myself that question today.

Our first meeting is still so vivid, the power of the experience burned into my mind and heart. I remember holding my son and asking him, "where did you come from?" One minute he was invisible, the next he was filling my life to the brim. A 7lb. person whose needs shaped our every waking moment, and most of our sleeping ones.

Today he's a far cry from that tiny flailing newborn. Actually he's still flailing, his arms and legs are just longer and manage to bump more things in their path. And he's still vocal, he had a lot to say back then, he just wasn't able to use words to say it. My desire is that God would give him a powerful message to share and fill his many words with grace.

I'm very proud of my boy. He's an amazing mix of his father and me, and yet his own person all at once. Chris and I are opposites, to see us combined into one little body is humorous, we shake our bemused heads everyday! My desire as a mommy is to partner with God to shape his character and help him discover God's purposes for his life. What a fearful and wonderful task!

Today I'm counting the gifts of parenting my sweet boy:

241. I'm thankful for the way being a mother challenges me to live self-sacrificing, holding me accountable.

242. What a joy to see him grow in his understanding of truth, responding to the Holy Spirit.
243.My heart fills to bursting as I watch him learn to serve and love his sister.

244. I love his creative mind that embraces discovery and learning.
245. Seeing how he fits into our family, taking his place, reminds me of the larger family of God and how we were all made to fit.

246. He delights his father and me with his affection and warmth, always ready for a snuggle or what he calls "a long hug." I love how he loves people.
247. It excites me to imagine what God has in mind for him and to see how the pieces will fit together as he grows and matures.

248. His smile, that makes his eyes dance and face light up, warms my heart.
249. Reading great books together, I love sharing some of my old favorites with him.

250. I'm thankful that parenting Max gives me intimate glimpses into our loving Father's great heart.

I pray this promise over both of my children and trust God, who is faithful, to fulfill it. Genesis 17:7 "And I will establish my covenant between me and you and your offspring after you through their generations for an everlasting covenant to be God to you and to your offspring after you."

What promises do you hold onto for the ones you love?

{Linking up with Ann Voskamp at A Holy Experience}

A Basket Full of Thanks {Mondays}

Lately I haven't joined in the holy discipline of recording the gracious gifts of God, set as precious jewels in my life. So, I'm jumping back in this week and setting them down as stones of remembrance at which to kneel and worship with a thankful heart. My heart pours gratitude:

231. With all my heart I'm thankful that temper tantrums and pitched fits, all the uglier when adult sized, don't disqualify me for grace, tenderness and love!

232. For the ability to worship, another gracious gift from the Father.

233. For delicate reminders of God's intricate design.

234. Children delighting in new found friendships, and their childish laughter rippling through the yard.

235. Dinner with my true love, enjoying shared moments alone.

236. The light of Love that drives the mist of doubt from our souls.

237. Witnessing the molding of my little boy's heart by the Holy Spirit, tenderness taking shape.

238. Prayer that brings me close to the heart of God. Unworthy one that I am, invited in on the merit of another, mysterious wonder. 

239. A heart that is becoming broken over the things that break God's heart, a heart that is learning not to turn away from pain but to press in and bear witness.

240. For a little boy taking joy in a rough, brown lizard, smile up turned and eyes dancing.

My week, like each one that's preceded it, has been marked by God's tender care. How, I ask myself, will I turn the praise of my lips into the action of thanksgiving? By a gentler word chosen in a moment of frustration. Through a prayer prayed for an orphan my arms can't hold but whose pain I can take responsibility for by speaking about him to our Father who can rescue him. In caring for my family and my own body as a steward of the gifts God's given. How will you thank God for his kindness to you this week? 

Joining up once again with Ann Voskamp and all of the many counters of gifts.

Living Thanks

As we approach this country's day set aside for giving thanks, I want to step away from my regular listing of blessings. Not because I'm ungrateful, quite the opposite. Instead I'm turning my attention away from my own overfed, plush life to vastly different ones. It's not hard for me to give thanks, in fact I regularly marvel at the sweetness of my life. Is that true of you also? I wonder if perhaps, at this time of year, we should enable needy ones to give thanks as well. What if our generosity could bolster the heart of a child that is truly deprived. Isn't an act of thanksgiving better than a word of thanksgiving anyway?

Eight years ago this January in a beautiful delivery room, fully staffed, and with every comfort I delivered my son. On that same day in Ecuador a woman gave birth to a little boy.  Two precious lives breathing air, meeting the world head on. One born to a life of advantage, the other to a life of struggle. But mercy had in mind the joining of those two lives, to fuse a new mercy.

For Max's first Christmas gift we sponsored Jefferson, that little boy born on Max's birthday in Ecuador. Jefferson was the only gift Max received from us his first Christmas. Even our richly blessed life had hit a speed bump, Chris was at a temporary job and we were living with my in-laws. Even so, our material blessings outweighed Jefferson's by far and we knew God had challenged us to step up. So we made a choice. Max would get toys from grandparents, but from us he would receive only the opportunity for years of perspective and compassion.

This year I'm remembering the day a pink bundle was laid in my arms. On the same day in Zambia a tiny brown bundle was laid in her mother's arms as well. My three year old Maggie and Harriet live worlds apart. Yet when I look at little Harriet's picture, her full lips and brown eyes ready to break into a grin, I think the girls would be friends in no time. This Christmas we're giving the gift of compassion to Harriet and the gift of perspective to Maggie.

My heart is full of memories this Thanksgiving. God's provision this year for my family is humbling and we praise him. More than anything I'm aware that I don't deserve God's goodness, it's pure and simply a gift. I could be the mother holding a baby I struggle to feed, not knowing who to call on to help me, it's only because of mercy that I'm not. So, this Thanksgiving instead of merely offering words of thanks lets offer actions as well. James 1:27 says, "Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress and refusing to let the world corrupt you."

As part of your Thanksgiving celebration I encourage you to include an action. Perhaps it's visiting an elderly person who is lonely, joining in a food drive, spending time in prayer for those in need, or buying a goat for a needy family through World Vision. Maybe you would like to take it one step further and make a commitment to sponsor a child all year long. Whether you're able to take a small step or large, allow mercy to intertwine your story with another, sharing the good gifts you've graciously received. If you're interested in sponsorship or a one time donation check out World Vision's website here.

I hope your week of Thanksgiving flows with sweet praise to our gracious God and actions that bless another! {Linking up with Ann Voskamp}

A Basket Full of Thanks {Mondays}

I'm off to enjoy time with my sweet husband and little girl, but I wanted to take a moment to lift up some thanksgiving!

221. Enjoying a crisp breeze and cloudy skies, feels a little more fallish.

222. Worshiping together with different congregations, ages and races, just a small foreshadowing of what heaven will be.

223. An impromptu tea party with little curly top.

224. Quiet moments with my husband, how is it that he becomes more dear the longer I'm with him!?

225. Family time at the NASPensecola watching the air show and exploring cool planes.

 226. Spending time with new friends and old; God is such a gracious giver, weaving our life stories together.

227. The ability to enjoy yummy smells; fall candles, apple cider, pot roast cooking.

228. Sweet brother and sister time, exploring the bay and playing together.

229. Conviction that I'm not what I should be yet and the reminder of God's faithfulness to complete the good work of holiness in those he loves.

230. Time, while it often feels like an enemy, in God's hands it is redeemed.

Enjoy your day knowing you're loved, cared for and enjoyed by our kind Father!

A Basket Full of Thanks {Mondays}

It amazes me how many opportunities we have every day to turn our hearts to thanksgiving. The praise is bubbling up in my heart this morning and I hope in yours as well. If however, life is pressing in hard and you feel the crush, take a deep breath and send up a note of praise. Perhaps you're not capable of a song at the moment, just a note, sing it out. A heart willing to praise God because he deserves it, will find joy. The notes of my song this week:

211. My little boy conquering a fear.

212. Christian Radio that lifts our hearts on the morning drive to school, we love car dancing and singing to Jesus.

213. Dirty though it may be, I'm thanking God for a bathroom to clean, I love indoor plumbing.

214. Deep red spray paint.

215. Sunny, warm days for outside fun.

216. Starting the morning with steamy, fresh blueberry muffins and a cup of tea.

217. Wind chimes singing to me through my open window.

218. Snuggles with a freckle faced boy.

219. Knowing that the sassy phase of our little angel will pass and learning long-suffering in the meantime.

220. Fanny Crosby's prolific hymn writing, a testimony to God being glorified in all circumstances.

I hope your day is filled with more than glimpses of grace and love but is truly awash in them!

A Basket Full of Thanks {Mondays}

It's time again to start my week with Thanksgiving, I'm linking up at A Holy Experience. God is so gracious to teach us the benefit of living the life of disciplined thanksgiving, the joy and right focus that comes is a blessing. Some of the things I'm thankful for this week are:

201. Worshiping together as a church body, every member important, every act of worship precious.

202. Forty one hard fought years of marriage for my parents, a badge of honor. Each year a gift of refining and love. Teaching me how to live, teaching others about hope, teaching them about God's holy plan for his people. I honor and respect them for their commitment and sacrifice. And I worship God for his commitment and sacrifice to his precious people, without it forty one years would never have happened. Happy Anniversary Mom and Dad!

 203. My marriage; a testing ground of faith, a comfort for this hard life, a joy of partnership.

204. Prayer, the joining of my heart with God's. How is it possible that he would want to hear from me, much less respond, sweet grace!

205. My handsome prince Caspian and adorable Cinderella, how I love those two.

 206. Boiled peanuts, church desserts, funnel cakes; some of the treats I've enjoyed this week.

207. The smell of warm salt air, pungent, greeting me every morning.

208. Sweet friendship. A weekend with my best friend from college, Nichole. Looking forward to enjoying her beautiful artwork on Maggie's bed for years to come.

 209. Grace for every stage of my life, whether I'm faithful or fretful.

210. Alabama sunsets.

What are you thankful for today? How have you seen God's hand of favor stretched out to you? I hope your week is filled with moments of grace and gratitude, tuning your heart to the Fathers.

A Basket Full of Thanks {Mondays}

I'm back friends and what a week it's been. I'm full to bursting with things to be thankful for. Our move went as smoothly as moves go. Though the drive was long and wearisome the kids did really well. The last week has been a flurry of settling into our new home and I've been busy nesting. Hopefully now that my life and home are more orderly I'll be posting again on a more regular basis. Thank you to those of you who have been praying and encouraging, I'm grateful! This Monday I'm thanking God for:

191. A snippet of time with family on the trip down from Ohio to Alabama

192. My children's open spirit of adventure and trust.

193. A front door open to welcome me warmly in to my own home.

194. The sheer delight of being in my beloved South once again, a flood of memories and familiarity washing over me at every turn.

195. No snow, and no prospects of snow, for my fall.

196. New friends, family already, sharing the bond of Christ.

197. A buddy for Max to play with, what a sensitive Heavenly Father we have.

198. Seeing God's fingerprints of provision and kindness in my life.

 199. Worship, sweet and free, shared with other needy people made righteous by the one and only Lamb.

200. Playing at the beach, after church and fish tacos. I loved seeing my children's joy and Maggie's first sampling of the beach.

It's good to be back! I hope you all have been well. What has God been doing in your life in the past week, what are you praising him for?

(If you would like to see pictures of our new home please feel free to visit my facebook pace, you can find a link to the right.)

A Basket Full of Thanks {Mondays}

I'm thankful for a gorgeous fall Sunday with my wee ones! They raked a 'pile' of leaves to jump in and delighted in throwing them at each other. I'm thankful for brother and sister love, I see the beginning seeds of community growing in their fresh hearts. They stretch my heart from the small, tight thing it can be. Rubbing me hard with their need, I learn patience and I'm faced with my deficit of kindness daily. Oh how my heart swells with their laughter, bursting with hope for joy to always flow from their hearts.

These are the things I'm thankful for at this moment. My life full of swirling childhood, time shared with a variety of dear friends, sunshine splashing bright, fiery red sunsets, stinging words of truth from a faithful husband, Holy Spirit sight, music that tells the story of love with haunting beauty, stacked boxes standing ready to open to a new life.

 

This week we're packing up the remnants of a wait, loading a truck, and driving to a new adventure. Because of the temporary upheaval that brings I will most likely be posting sporadically for the next couple of weeks. On Thursday, my usual blog hop day, we'll be loading the truck. So I won't be posting then, but I encourage you to link up with Grace Cafe on Thursday. 

As this week dawns with fresh mercy, I hope you embrace it arms wide! With fear cast aside in exchange for trust, hope and joy turning your steps into a dance, the sunlight of love playing across your heart.

A Basket Full of Thanks {Mondays}

Some days we live a hard worship, our heads getting ahead of our hearts. Staying still before Jesus goes against our frantic paced grain. I'm thankful when God draws me back to the business of worship. Today I'm praising him for:

181. Toddler and big boy hugs and kisses, little arms around my neck at homecoming.
182. Grace for my heart and theirs when the following days get bumpy and crabby.
183. Isaiah sharing his view of "the Lord. He was sitting on a lofty throne, and the train of his robe filled the Temple. Attending him were mighty seraphim, each having six wings. With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they flew. They were calling out to each other, “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. The whole earth is filled with his glory!” Their voices shook the Temple to its foundations, and the entire building was filled with smoke."
184. Remembering that I'm sinful and not in a position to demand anything, but that by God's grace his Son's blood has put me in a position to receive everything of value.
185. Enjoying fall's popping colors and crisp air before moving to the land of palm trees and warm breezes.

186. Laughing with my husband at things only we think are funny.
187. Hot chai tea.
188. Books that hold up a mirror, exposing hidden vulnerability in our own hearts, while pointing to hope. Ian Morgan Cron's book Jesus, My Father, the CIA, and Me; A Memoir of Sorts is a great read.
189. Sticks, it's amazing what an imaginative little boy can do with them.
190. Knowing I have nothing to offer others but Jesus, that's freedom.

I hope your week is blessed by the vision of the Lord high and lifted up, reigning over your life. What are you thankful for?

Linking up with Ann Voskamp and her fellow joy seekers at A Holy Experience.

A Basket Full of Thanks {Mondays}

This morning Chris and I have a lot to be thankful for! We've been on a journey of trust since we left our last ministry position in April. We're thankful for God's faithfulness through the process, and his provision. Now he's leading us to our new home!

Genesis church steeple

We will be moving to Lillian, Alabama next month to join in ministry with our new church family. After several days candidating in Lillian God's direction has been clear and his heart so tender. We have no doubt that God is weaving our stories together in a way only he could orchestrate, we watch in amazement.

Between the time of our first phone call from the Genesis church to the invitation to come serve, it was just 24 days! Actually we never applied to the church, we had never heard of Genesis until we got a phone call. Our name was passed on to them by our friend, Steve Pelt, who has recently become the senior pastor at the Genesis church in the neighboring town. God did all the work, we prayed and trusted, but he wove everything together in his way and time!

It's breathtaking when, for a moment, you glimpse a clear panorama of God's plan sweeping over the last several years of your life, explaining so much. That's how I feel about this last week, pieces of a puzzle have been fitting together.

Plus I have the added bonus of being a southern girl again! My eyes have danced over fields of cotton, my skin sighed beneath the breath of velvety southern air, my ears soaked in the music of accents lilting like poetry, home! No where in this wide earth will ever satisfy my wandering heart like heaven, but the south comes closer than anywhere I know!


So in a couple of weeks we'll join our hearts and lives with our new church family, and I'm thankful! To all who prayed I say thank you!

cotton under a sultry southern sky

171. I'm thankful for a church home to love and serve and be a part of.
172. For a home for my children.
173. New friends, already so dear.
174. For the delight of toes in sand and gulf breezes.
175. For good ole' southern hospitality.
176. Sweet tea.
177. For southern football.
178. Live oaks dripping with Spanish moss.
179. Celebrating God's faithfulness in both the hard wait and the arms flung wide blessing.
180. Seeing my kids soon! Oh how I've missed their little arms around my neck.

Linking up as usual with A Holy Experience.

A Basket Full of Thanks {Mondays}

Today I celebrate 13 years of marriage to Chris, and I'm so thankful!

How do you give thanks for a heart, for a life time, for faithfulness? I love that marriage is a picture of Christ's love. I grieve that I don't wonder over the mystery of that truth more. But mostly I'm thankful. I'm amazed that the years have woven the connective tissue of our shared heart so tightly together, blood pumping in unison. The bond of commitment has hardened, cement like, a firm foundation for building a family upon.

I marvel how time slips, hard to hold and define, maturing the faces I see reflected. Faces no longer childish, nor the love. I'm thankful that when pettiness raised it's ugly head we did battle and won, over and over.

I'm thankful that the wide eyed wonder may have tempered with experience and wisdom, but not the joy. I am my beloveds and he is mine. I'm amazed that he can still make me feel pretty, thankful I'm ever his girl. How is it that my ears still listen for his footfall and my heart skips a beat when he comes into the room?

But mostly I'm amazed that Jesus would share with us such an intimate picture of His love, a marriage. That the Father would purchase for His only Son such a wife as me. I know my husband better than any other person, and love him dearer. And yet I wasn't made to be his bride, I'm his sacred trust, held in promise for Another. It's taken me many years to even grasp such a concept and it will take many more to understand.

Today I'm thankful for a love that was conceived of by God and has been kept by Him as well. And I'm thankful for a man who has ventured out on this journey of love with courage and faithfulness, extending his hand to mine.

Linking up with Ann at A Holy Experience to say I'm thankful.